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With marijuana becoming legal in more and more places, it has become a very big business. Cannabis business conferences have sprung up all around the world to help people improve their sales, find new products and have a great time networking with others in the industry. But with so many new conferences, how do you know which ones are worth attending and which would just be a waste of your money, time and energy? Almost all conferences offer something of value if you’re on the lookout for the opportunities, but you can improve your chances of getting a lot out of the experience by checking out the ten best marijuana industry conferences for entrepreneurs.

The Marijuana Business Conference Expo, better known as MJBizCon, is the most established conference of its kind. It is also one of the largest marijuana business conferences, so it is sure to have something you’re looking for. It happens several times throughout the year in different fun locations including Las Vegas and New Orleans. If you want to make sure to attend a cannabis business conference that other people have heard of and hold in high regard, then this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

The National Cannabis Industry Association is the only trade association for the marijuana business, so it makes sense to follow what they are doing. One of the things they do is host this business expo. Over the past five years, this award-winning expo has proven that it will always cover a diverse range of topics to help both newbies and those who are well-established in the marijuana sales industry. You can get a broad overview of the industry or focus on speakers that appeal to exactly your current needs for information.

The NCIA is the national trade association, but there is also a state association, the California Cannabis Industry Association, serving the needs of the United States’ largest adult-use market. California made medical marijuana legal in the 20th century, so there is an entire history of knowledge in this state about the best practices of marijuana business sales. Learn from the best.

With so many cannabis business conferences happening all of the time, great ones will work hard to stand out with something different to offer. The New West Summit emphasizes the tech aspect of the marijuana business. If you want to attend a hackathon, learn about drones as a cannabis delivery service option or get help as a start-up, this Oakland, California conference should be on your calendar.

Are you more interested in the science than the tech behind marijuana businesses? People who get excited to learn more about terpenoids, gene-assisted breeding and the relationship of marijuana to brain chemistry will definitely want to attend this innovative Portland conference. CSC was founded in 2016 by Joshua Crossney, the entrepreneur of medicinal marijuana in the United States. With over 3,000 show attendees and 150 booths of sponsors and exhibitors, this convention is considered the largest cannabis science exhibition in the world.

Businesses and entrepreneurs involved in the growing side of the industry will particularly benefit from this conference. CSC offers a popular pre-show workshop called Canna Boot Camp. This all-day interactive workshop covers everything from marijuana cultivation, pre-processing, prep, analytical testing, THC extraction and manufacturing edibles. Industry professionals demonstrate technologies and techniques to share their personal experiences. This in-depth workshop gives entrepreneurs an understanding of the cannabis industry and the opportunity to network with cultivation experts.

Many of the United States’ cannabis business conferences happen on the West Coast, but that doesn’t mean that East Coast sellers are left out in the cold. NECANN specializes in conferences held in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other east coast states. The conferences in Maine and Rhode Island are especially popular, having been established over the past several years. People on the west coast or coming in from Canada may find new markets by attending this event.

This is the perfect place for people interested in learning business techniques and tips. Although all marijuana business conferences offer that information to some degree, CannaCon specializes in the business end of the business. There are conferences in Seattle, Detroit and Boston, so you can pick the one that’s closest to you or go further away to learn something new.

This unique two-day conference has one day set aside just for B2B customers and a second for the general public. The B2B side of things really brings to light the important business aspects of the marijuana industry, and it is an especially great starting point for newcomer entrepreneurs that attend this conference. Exhibitors may like to attend the general public event to share their products and meet industry buyers. This expo has been hosted in San Francisco, Denver and Portland.

If you want to go to a great destination around the world – be that San Francisco or Berlin – to catch up on the latest in the marijuana business, then this is the perfect conference for you. This one specializes in bringing in well-known industry guest speakers such as cultural icon Henry Rollins.

Who doesn’t want to enjoy a getaway to Jamaica? It’s even better when the trip is focused on the business of marijuana and you can write it off as a business expense on your taxes! This fun conference shouldn’t be overlooked, because it also offers a ton of great information in addition to the terrific Montego Bay location. CanEx is the premier Cannabis B2B conference in the Caribbean. Track sessions include information on finances, advocacy and women in the cannabis industry.

There is no wrong cannabis business conference to attend on this list. As an entrepreneur, consider what you need to get out of the face-to-face event and whether you’ll be able to visit your preferred trade show exhibitors. If you want to get specific information about science or tech orwomen in the industry, look for the events that specialize in those areas, but don’t discount larger exhibitions that likely also have speakers on those topics. If you want to share your products with a new market, consider going outside of your regional area and attending one of the big conferences on another coast.

Once you’ve booked your trip to any of these 10 awesome cannabis business conferences, prepare to have a great time. Go in with an open mind, excited about the opportunity to learn from your peers. This is a welcoming industry and one with huge opportunity for growth.

One of the best ways to create a positive and memorable experience for attendees at your corporate events is to serve free freshly brewed quality coffee. In addition to giving attendees a welcome boost of energy in a mug, by properly brewing and serving the highest quality coffee, your guests feel value that creates a positive association with your event. Below are 10 reasons why you should forego the standard convention center snack fare and make free, Starbucks level premium coffee options part of your corporate catering plan.

#1 – Coffee Wakes Everyone Up

What better way to ensure an alert audience than a dose of morning caffeine? A five-star cup of coffee is something participants can enjoy, that will also help event attendees stay alert and energized on your agenda.

#2 – Participants Don’t Need to Search for Coffee

Tracking down refreshments in a massive exhibit hall can be a daunting task for weary conference attendees that have been on their feet for hours. Save event participants time and energy by hiring an external local vendor who uses a mobile cart to serve coffee to guests. Promote your vendor’s location with floor stand signs and announcements to make everyone aware of the free barista location!

#3 – Customized Service from a Barista

There is a big difference between basic convention hall self-serve stations and a made-to-order cup of tasty transcendent coffee from a locally brewed supplier. Make your guests feel valued by hiring an experienced barista to serve your guests as if they were at your city’s top local coffeehouse. Creating ways to enhance your guest experience will help solidify a positive vibe association with your event, conference or trade show.

#4 – Control Service Schedule

When serving the standard “prison coffee” commonly provided for free by convention halls and most conference centers, you are often at the mercy of their staff’s service schedule, and may not be able to provide coffee at all times. By hiring an external coffee vendor, you can dictate when and where all coffee is served.

#5 – Attendees Can Tell the Difference

Seasoned coffee drinkers are familiar with enduring the low-grade coffee typically stocked by exhibit halls and convention centers. Not only will they be pleasantly surprised, but they will appreciate your efforts to accommodate their preferences.

#6 – Promote Your Brand

A key benefit of enlisting the service of an external premium quality coffee vendor is the ability to use customized cups and promotional mugs to advertise your brand. In most cases, you can simply send a high-resolution copy of your logo to your preferred catering vendor, and they’ll manage the digital screen printing process.

#7 – Create a Positive Impression of Your Events

When you serve premium select coffee, your event will be remembered and reflected on by your guests, unlike typical corporate events that provide nothing of value to their guests year after year. Simple event planning innovations like professional top-shelf quality coffee services and other hospitality improvements, will create more positive experience’s for your guests and higher guest retention rates. Showing guests that your event hospitality team goes the extra mile, means attendees are likely to leave with a favorable opinion of your event.

#8 – Options for Non-Coffee Drinkers

In contrast to standard options provided by exhibit halls and other corporate venues, mobile coffee baristas often also include hot chocolate and a handful of healthy tea options, in addition to their five star coffee selection. This is a welcome change for non-coffee drinking attendees who long for a fresh, hot beverage.

#9 – Better Dairy Selection

The dairy (or non-dairy) selection that is served to accompany coffee is a critical part of the refreshment experience. By seeking the services of a professional local coffee vendor, you can typically choose from a wide variety of coffee additions, such as skim milk, half-and-half or soy milk.

#10 – Eliminate Hidden Costs

The absence of any hidden costs is a key advantage of enlisting the services of an external coffee vendor. Top-notch external coffee vendors do not charge additional fees for extras, like flavored syrups or double shots, and offer an all-inclusive type of service.

Clearly, there are many reasons to bypass the low-quality exhibit hall fare in favor of premium coffee options. If you are an individual exhibitor and show coordinators are not offering better coffee, the above benefits still apply to show-site trade show marketing. Serving quality coffee will boost traffic to your own 10×10 trade show booth! Whether you are searching for a way to keep attendees focused on your presentation or simply want to create a positive experience for your guests to remember, utilizing great coffee is a superb solution.